[sjatwood]

#1058760

Hello everyone:

My name is Samantha (age 20) and I have been diagnosed with GD since I was eighteen and still have so many questions about what’s going on with me. I have underwent RAI treatment and still trying to get my medication right but due to my lack of health insurance have been unable to go to the doctor. Here are some of the questions I have any answers are appreciated. In my family this is genetic, most of the women have it but none are around to talk to me so here it goes.

-What do I need to watch out for when it comes to alcohol because my 21st is right around the corner.
-What should I know from your experience that might help me with daily issues like the racing heart and tiredness.
-Is there anything to worry about with pregnancy because I am looking to start a family in the next couple of years with my fiance of 4 years who was the one who found me on the bathroom floor after I passed out from my heart racing the first time.(He saved my life!)
-Is there anyway to get medical bills paid when you don’t have insurance? I am having such a hard time.
-Anything special I can do to help me sleep because Ive been taking a all natural sleeping pill to help and drinking warm tea at night but its not really helping me. I can’t shut my brain off and relax.

Thank you for all the help and ideas!

Samantha (Indiana)

[Kimberly]

#1169834

Hello and welcome! We aren’t doctors here, just fellow patients, but here are a few comments…

I haven’t heard of any warnings regarding alcohol post-RAI, but I would personally not recommend going overboard for your 21st birthday!

If you use the search function (in the top left-hand corner of the screen) for "insomnia", you can read suggestions from other members as to how they have dealt with this issue. However, it’s *really* important that you try to get your levels stabilized in order to help minimize symptoms such as insomnia, heart palps, etc.. If you don’t have insurance, you can search for a free or low-cost clinic near you at http://www.hrsa.gov. There is an option to search for clinics by zip code at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. (You will need to use your browser’s "back" button to return to the boards after viewing). If you have existing bills, you might talk to your current providers about working out a long-term payment plan.

The main concern with pregnancy is to *not* plan a pregnancy 6-12 months after RAI, so it sounds like you are well past that benchmark. Once you do conceive, you will need to tell your OB/GYN that you have been treated for Graves’, as he/she might want to measure antibody levels during pregnancy as a precaution.

Hope this helps!

[emmtee]

#1169835

You may be aware of this already, but in case you’re not… I’m trying to make a decision regarding my treatment, and I checked into the cost of anti-thyroid meds vs. the cost of levothyroxine, just in case I ever lose my insurance. A couple of discount retail stores have lists of $4 generic prescriptions, and levothyroxine is on both their lists, as is my BP medicine (metoprolol.) Once you do get in to see a doctor, your prescriptions shouldn’t break the bank.

Good luck!

Marci

[Bobbi]

#1169836

Hi, Samantha:

You must go to the doctor somehow to keep your levels in check. I realize that without health insurance that makes things extremely difficult, but without proper medication, you will be making your long-term health issues worse, rather than better. The racing heart issue is particularly troubling, because if you are hyperthyroid (which is often demonstrated by the racing heart), your heart is in danger of being worn out. So, you have to find a way to see a doctor, and get proper, consistent medical care. GPs can, in a pinch, serve us reasonably well. Clinics are cropping up in major cities, so there might be one near you, and sometimes there is consistency in the medical staff, which would be preferable to a round-robin of doctors seeing you. You might be able to work out a payment schedule if you have a GP — paying a certain amount that you can budget, each month. Sometimes, if rarely, our doctors will take slightly less if we pay immediately, in cash for the visit. You can always ask. I found myself, a few years ago, living six months a year without health insurance, due to some fine print in our health insurance policy. And, of course, I found myself having to pay for procedures that cropped up unexpectedly. I found a HUGE difference if I paid in cash, rather than via health insurance. So, sometimes it just takes a bit of work, but it is possible to find ways around the lack of insurance that don’t include ignoring your very real health issues. Others here may have other helpful suggestions as to how to find help. But do get help.

[sjatwood]

#1169837

Thank you for the replies and advice. im on levothyroxine right now and have a plan to get it cheaply. I am going to try and get state healthcare to help with the cost.

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